Transformer Tubes (Formerly Steele Concept)

If you could get that price down about $175-200, this would be an ideal piece. I get that SS is expensive, but glass in this price range is handmade bottom up. Yes, there should be a charge for it's durability... but honestly I don't see spending three hundred on any non-glass water tool with one perc/diffuser. Two I guess if you've now got the showerhead downstems (which I really liked as an upgrade BTW - I would prefer that over the open style even when combusting).

That being said, congratulations on the successes so far. I'm also involved in a family business, and can definitely relate to the start up hardships. The stainless steel ice cubes are fairly ingenious, I may have to order a set of those and take a tip from your brother. Whiskey's one of my guilty pleasures as well.

If you could get that price down about $175-200, this would be an ideal piece. I get that SS is expensive, but glass in this price range is handmade bottom up. Yes, there should be a charge for it's durability... but honestly I don't see spending three hundred on any non-glass water tool with one perc/diffuser. Two I guess if you've now got the showerhead downstems (which I really liked as an upgrade BTW - I would prefer that over the open style even when combusting).

That being said, congratulations on the successes so far. I'm also involved in a family business, and can definitely relate to the start up hardships. The stainless steel ice cubes are fairly ingenious, I may have to order a set of those and take a tip from your brother. Whiskey's one of my guilty pleasures as well.

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Awesome to hear you are involved in a family business herb guy! Thanks for the kind words. Regarding the cubes if I'm going to pour some brown water in a glass I'm more of a bourbon or scotch type of guy but I can dig whiskey. Makers Mark is one of my favorites.

I have ran the numbers and it all comes down to economy of scale. $200 would be an ideal price and a real sweet target to ultimately shoot for. As stated much earlier in this thread $250 is realistic in a year or so (It's hard to say because the product just launched)

The hard part is making it so everyone makes a fair share of money and is happy. If it were just me selling them now perhaps it would be possible to do $250 but that would undercut my retailers and nobody would be happy. Without retailers my exposure would be limited and I would surely fail. So it's a delicate balancing act to be fair to everyone. That's you, me and the retailers.

My product is similar to the LSV in price point. The MSRP for both is $349.99. I remember I bought my LSV for $249.99 + Shipping (I paid a little extra for USPS shipping, because I know they are fast) As those guys started slinging more units they were able to lower the price for everyone. I think the LSV has been out since 2010 (correct me if I'm wrong). It doesn't bother me that I paid $249.99 + Shipping and the price is now $189.99, it's the way thing work and it's an awesome quality vape! I am happy.

As my economy of scale increases the price will also drop in a lock step fashion. I have already crunched the numbers and it will look like the following. Keep in mind these prices are what you would see in a store or from my internet store including shipping:

$299.99 - I would hope to hit this by early 2013
$249.99 - I would hope to hit this sometime in 2014
$199.99 - I would love to hit this target as my ultimate goal

Believe me, I'd love to sling these things for $199.99 all day. The lower price point means it is accessible to a larger audience and therefore has a greater chance for a sick cult following! I'd love for everyone to have a Steele Concept. At the end of the day it's sell less units for higher price or more units for a lower price. In time the price will drop, this I promise.

ever consider making a slide with 90 degree angle? or a maybe a slide in adapter to make it straight up for leaving a vaporizer sitting upright. That batch looks great!

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Hi Kush thanks for the kind words my man. There are plenty of 45 glass adapters that fit in the down stem. In the future perhaps I'd offer a stemless type of design but I like the current 45 stem design. The ergonomics are right for passing the unit around. One hand on pipe, one hand on vape.

Dope avatar BTW. It reminds me of the boo ghosts in Super Mario Bros. for SNES.

really looking forward to seeing these changes in the new model. sounds like it's going to be a beast! can't imagine an even cleaner look to it, i already thought it looked real slick.

let me know if you need a helping hand over there with all those units

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Thanks Scholar! Yeah the finish is cleaned up now. I had sent a unit out to get polished but it's a bit too shiny and very slippery on the grip which is no good. Although shiny looks slick it detracts from the cubes. A matte finish allows the eyes to focus on the cubes which are a unique feature/selling point of the unit. Matte finish looks good on high tech stuff so it compliments the modern aesthetic.

Diffusion+Perc+Frozen Cubes = Steele beast mode.

We should chill sometime around the Holidays Scholar, I could show you the setup I got going on.

Are the new models for sale on the site right now with the perc plate? Also, how much more diffusion would you say the perc plate offers versus the original model.

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Yes, the models on the site are the new perc plate models. The revised units offer significantly more percolation, rather dramatic compared to the first unit. The holes were made a bit larger than in the video and it works a bit better with a faster clear as well.

If you guys want to order make a note for which downstem you would prefer. You got your choice.

Sitting here with the Steele Concept in hand and Ahhhh, now back to It's a Wonderful Life

On page 10 of this thread you can see the pics of the Black Leaf downstem with slits at the bottom. I don't have those on the main site yet for the general public but you guys can have at them If you'd like. Lots of people on this forum are going to be more partial to the bottom slit downstem than the general public.

Make sure to check out the Steele Concept in the High Times February 2013 Gear section. We are also in Hotbreath, BIG Industry and Nuggetry this month. An exciting month with the new Perc Plate model, holiday sales and more exposure. All good stuff.

Hey Steele, just wanted to give you some props for your professionalism! I don't own a Steele yet and probably won't for a while (too big for my budget - one day!), but I still frequently check this topic because I love what you are doing. Keep up the good work!